The third day we walked most of the day and most of the night. The only upside is that when an entire division is moving, it takes so long that the walking is pretty slow and there are often breaks. After all of our walking, up and down mountains, and then up and down and up again, we stormed a building and called it a night.
The next morning we prepared for the final "mission." We were going 10 km to the top of the highest mountain in the area (something like 1,000 meters above sea level). From there we were supposed to supply information to the rest of the division about where the enemy forces are so that our troops could advance.
As we sat around waiting to begin the hike we were informed that a bus would be coming to take us to our post at the top of the mountain. At first I didn't believe it because this is somewhat unheard of. Then we were told that the mountain is covered with land mines and that there is only one safe way up and down.
Around 11 PM we reached out post at the top of the mountain. We had been prepared to spend the next few hours freezing on the top of the mountain. Personally, I had already come to grips with the idea that I would not be able fall asleep. However, when we reached the top we found an old military outpost. The trenches of which provided welcome relief from the freezing winds. We were tasked with searching for enemy troops so we could warn our forces, so we split up into the pairs we would be working in and started a lookout rotation. Those of us who weren't first began looking for a place to sleep. My partner and I found what I can only describe as a 3 by 3 ft. hole that was about 10 feet deep and lined with concrete (I don't know what it had been used for but I assume storing ammunition and possibly food). When we got there the only thing in there was a big bird nest.
When we it was our turn to look out it was too foggy to see anything, even with our thermal night gear. We spent most of our time shivering and then woke up the next pair. In the morning we packed up our gear and rode back down the mountain. We waited for the rest of the Division to finish their respective "missions" and then there was a ceremony.
(More pictures to come)
